For women, self help is the best help: Mary Kom

Olympic bronze medallist and five-time world boxing champion MC Mary Kom has advocated effective self-defence by women as the best way to prevent the escalating attacks on them.

The boxer, speaking at an event in the city, shared her own experience of harassment in the past, and said that women need to take matters in their own hands while dealing with issues of harassment and molestation.

“The requirement in today’s society is for women to take charge. I have been harassed in the past. The experience does affect you, but because of my training in boxing I defended myself and bashed up the assailant,” said Kom.

“It is never about what you wear. I was wearing a traditional gown common in Manipur. I was on my way to church in an auto when the incident took place. I realised something was amiss when the driver drew me into a sparsely crowded road. He suddenly started passing lewd comments. I got down immediately and beat him up, because I knew how to,” Mary added.

The i ssue of sex- related crimes against women has come under immense scrutiny in the country following the recent cases of gangrape reported in New Delhi and Mumbai.

According to Mary, the best way to tackle the insensitivity prevalent in society is to instil a fear of retaliation in a prospective attacker.

“If men know that a woman can fight back, they will think twice before attacking. Even if women do not take up boxing, other forms of self-defence are available. I hope more women take to these methods and that it helps them protect themselves if such an incident were to take place with them,” Mary signed off.